10 Rarest Watches that Formula 1 Drivers Keep Flaunting

While chaos reigns across Formula 1 early in the 2024 season, what hasn’t changed is spying some of the rarest, coolest, eye-wateringly expensive watches on the wrists of drivers like Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen, and Charles LeClerc. With a slew of high-end watch brands sponsoring the majority of the field, there’s no dearth of shimmering carbon and titanium glinting from the drivers’ wrists. We tapped James Lamdin, founder of Analog:Shift and Vice President of Vintage and Pre-Owned for Watches of Switzerland U.S., to dig deeper into the special watches you’ll catch fleeting glimpses of in the paddock. 

Most Likely to Be at the Top of the Podium: Max Verstappen’s TAG Heuer Monaco Titanium Special Edition

Red Bull’s timepiece partner is TAG Heuer, a brand with early ties to motorsport. Founder Jack Heuer used to hawk chronographs to drivers in the pit lane, creating some of the first watch partnerships in racing. Ironically, despite the name, this iconic model, with its instantly recognizable squared-off shape wasn’t meant for the track. “The Monaco was never intended as a driver’s watch, but after being popularized by Steve McQueen in the film Le Mans, the connotation stuck,” says Lamdin. “Max’s one-off skeletonized version leans into Formula 1’s avant garde design language, and it’s fitting for a driver who frequently finds himself at the top of the podium.” 

Best Iteration of a Core Collection: Sergio Perez’s TAG Heuer Carrera Tourbillon Sergio Perez Edition

This is a handsome custom edition, limited to two pieces, one of which is on Perez’s wrist. The tourbillon mechanism is what makes this watch special. “A tourbillon is a component of a mechanical watch that rotates the balance wheel—counteracting the effects of gravity and improving accuracy through the gear chain,” says Lamdin. But really it looks cool, which is why most people covet them. [https://magazine.tagheuer.com/en/2023/05/28/custom-made-for-champions/]

Best for Checking How Long Until You’re in a Ferrari: Lewis Hamilton’s IWC Big Pilot’s Watch Perpetual Calendar Lewis Hamilton Edition

While IWC traditionally focuses on the skies, the legendary brand has found a home on-track with Mercedes-AMG—though Hamilton’s namesake special edition is on a expiration date given his impending move. The Big Pilot lineup draws inspiration from 1940s aviator watches that were designed to be worn around…